Karan opened the car door for Meera, and she stepped out, her legs shaky with apprehension. As she looked up, the imposing, luxurious restaurant loomed before her, its towering structure illuminated by soft, golden lights that cast a glow over her face.
She swallowed hard, feeling dwarfed by the grandeur of the place.
"Arjun is inside." Karan said gently, his tone a mix of reassurance and urgency.
"You should go in before he runs out of patience."
Meera gave a small, stiff nod, unable to muster any words. Karan flashed her a brief smile, meant to comfort her, but it barely reached his eyes.
He knew the weight of what awaited her. Without another word, he got back into the car and drove off, leaving Meera standing alone in front of the restaurant.
For a moment, she watched the taillights of his car disappear into the night. Then, with a deep breath, she turned back to face the entrance.
The restaurant loomed even larger now, its grandeur intimidating. She hesitated, her feet feeling heavy as lead, but she steeled herself and approached the glass doors.
The doorman, without saying a word, pulled open the door for her, offering a small nod. Meera returned it with a nervous smile before stepping inside.
What greeted her wasnât the bustling scene of wealthy diners she had expected. Instead, the restaurant was eerily empty. Not a single person occupied the lavish dining area.
The golden lights illuminated every intricate detail of the room, from the crystal chandeliers to the hand-painted murals on the walls. It was breathtakingly beautiful, but also unsettling in its silence.
Just as she was absorbing the strange ambiance, a man in his forties, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, approached her. His expression was calm, professional, and slightly intimidating.
"Miss Meera Ahuja?" he asked, his voice low and formal.
Meera, startled, turned quickly to face him. "Y-yes⦠Thatâs me."
"Welcome, Miss Ahuja. Mr. Arjun Madhav is waiting for you." he said smoothly, bowing his head slightly.
Meera swallowed the lump forming in her throat, nodding in response. She could feel her heart pounding harder, her unease growing.
The man gestured for her to follow, and she did, though every step felt like she was walking deeper into a trap.
He led her through the stunning but deserted dining room, toward an elevator at the back of the restaurant. Confusion flickered across her face.
'Why an elevator?' she thought, feeling a chill of apprehension run down her spine.
This wasnât just a dinner, was it?
She hesitated as the elevator doors slid open, revealing its dimly lit interior. The man gave her a reassuring nod.
"Please, Miss Meera. Donât worry."
With another deep breath, Meera stepped inside, and the man followed. The elevator began its slow ascent, the numbers above the door blinking one by one as they passed each floor.
Meeraâs anxiety built with every passing second. Finally, the elevator dinged to a halt on the sixth floor.
When the doors slid open, Meera was greeted by complete darkness.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"What...?" she whispered, confused and a little frightened. She looked at the man, but he simply smiled.
"Please, step out, Miss Ahuja." he said, his tone still calm and collected. "Itâs part of the experience."
Meera bit her lip, hesitant, but she knew there was no turning back now.
Slowly, she took one tentative step out of the elevator, her breath caught in her throat. As soon as her foot touched the floor, a dim light flickered on, illuminating the path ahead of her.
She blinked, nervously glancing around. The dim lighting gave the room an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality.
She took another step, and more lights flickered on, lighting her way as if guiding her forward. The man behind her smiled again, stepping back into the elevator.
"Have a wonderful evening, Miss Meera." he said before the doors slid shut, leaving her completely alone.
Meera's breath came in shallow gasps. The stillness around her was oppressive, the silence thick. She stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do, but then steeled herself and began to walk forward.
Each step she took brought more light into the room, but it was never fully brightâjust enough to see what was directly ahead of her.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room, breaking the silence.
"Meera."
She froze. Her pulse quickened, and she slowly turned in the direction of the voice. Standing at the center of the room, surrounded by the soft glow of the lights, was Arjun.
His presence dominated the space, his tall frame silhouetted against the dim lighting. His gaze was intense, fixed solely on her.
Just in front of him was a beautifully set table for two, the soft glow of candlelight flickering across its surface. It was an intimate, romantic setup, the kind of dinner that felt more like a seduction than a casual meeting.
Meera swallowed hard, her nerves on edge. This wasnât what she had imaginedâthis wasnât just a dinner.
Arjun didnât move at first, his dark eyes studying her as if reading her every thought, every emotion. The silence stretched between them, heavy and thick.
"Come." Arjun's voice was soft, yet it held an undeniable authority. His eyes locked onto Meeraâs, pulling her in like a magnet.
Her heart hammered in her chest as she took slow, tentative steps toward him, stopping just short of standing too close.
The distance between them was safe, but even that small space felt charged with tension. Her eyes flicked nervously to the table, noticing the meticulous arrangement of silverware and the lavish meal spread before her. Her palms began to sweat, her mind racing.
Arjun stepped closer, closing that small gap, and Meeraâs breath hitched. Her gaze darted upward, meeting his intense, dark eyes.
It wasnât the proximity that unnerved herâit was the way he looked at her, as if he could see right through her, like she was the only thing that existed in the room. The depth in his stare felt almost suffocating, and she struggled to keep her composure.
"You look beautiful." Arjun said at last, his voice low, barely more than a whisper, yet it filled the room like a command.
The way he said it wasnât a complimentâit was a statement, as though her beauty was a fact that only he could acknowledge.
Meera furrowed her brows slightly, unsure of how to respond. She glanced down at herself, feeling suddenly conscious of her plain outfit.
There was nothing extravagant about what she wore, just simple attire she had picked before this dinner.
Yet here she was, in a place that screamed opulence, being told she looked beautiful by a man whose presence alone could make her feel out of place.
"Um⦠thank you?" she murmured, her voice barely audible. She could feel the weight of his gaze, never leaving her.
Arjun didnât reply immediately. Instead, he walked over to one of the chairs at the table and pulled it out for her.
His movements were smooth, deliberate. The silence between them was thick, oppressive, and Meera hesitated for just a moment before forcing herself to sit.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel her nerves on edge. As Arjun took his seat across from her, the intensity in his eyes softenedâjust a fractionâbut the tension in the air refused to dissipate.
He reached for the bottle of wine, pouring it into two crystal glasses with practiced ease.
"Do you like it?" he asked suddenly, gesturing vaguely around the room.
Meeraâs eyes wandered around the dimly lit space. It was stunning, no doubt about that, but it felt far too intimate for what should have been a simple dinner.
The candles, the secluded upper floor, the way the light danced off the wallsâit was romantic in a way that made her stomach turn with unease.
This was more than just dinner. It felt like a setup, like she was walking into something she wasnât prepared for.
Her mind flashed back to Jiyaâs warning.
Could it be true?
No, she shook her head.
She couldnât think about that now.
"Meera?" Arjunâs voice brought her back, and she realized she had been lost in her thoughts. His brow furrowed slightly, watching her closely.
"You donât like it?" he asked, his voice deceptively calm, though there was an edge to it that made her feel as if her answer mattered more than it should.
Meera swallowed hard, forcing herself to look at him.
"Itâs⦠itâs good." she stammered, struggling to find the right words.
"But, Arjun⦠why are we here? I mean, why are we having dinner up here instead of downstairs? The restaurant was empty. Itâs just⦠strange." She finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been gnawing at her since she stepped inside.
Arjun didnât answer right away. His eyes remained on her, dark and unreadable, as if weighing her question.
Instead of replying, he picked up the wine bottle again and poured the drink into her glass before pouring his own. He placed her glass beside her plate, the deep red liquid shimmering in the candlelight. His silence was unnerving.
"Eat." he commanded, his tone brooking no argument. He picked up his own fork, setting an example.
Meera glanced down at her plate. The food was elegantly presentedâfar more luxurious than anything she was used toâbut her appetite had vanished completely.
She was too tense, too uneasy to enjoy the meal. Her eyes drifted to the wine glass in front of her, then back to Arjun.
"I donât drink wine." she said softly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her napkin.
"Itâs a fruit wine, Meera." Arjun said, his voice almost softening. "I know you donât like alcohol."
Meeraâs eyes widened slightly. How could he have known that? She barely spoke about her preferences, especially not to him.
The fact that he knew this small detail unnerved her even more.
She gave a small nod, not wanting to provoke him, and picked up her fork. She cut a small piece of steak, her hands trembling slightly as she brought it to her lips.
As she chewed, the silence between them stretched on. Arjun, still watching her, took a sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving her face.
Meera tried to focus on the taste of the food, but all she could think about was the tension in the air, the way his gaze seemed to dissect her every move.
"Do you have a boyfriend, Meera?" Arjun's sudden question shattered the fragile silence between them, catching Meera completely off guard. She blinked, unsure if she had heard him correctly.
"What?" she asked, her voice faint with confusion, hoping she misunderstood his words.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he repeated, his tone firmer now, his dark eyes narrowing as if he was trying to read her thoughts, searching for an answer in her expression.
The intensity in his gaze was suffocating, the air between them growing heavier with each passing second.
Meera shifted uncomfortably in her seat, taken aback by the invasive question.
"No... I don't." she stammered, her heart racing. She wasnât sure why he was asking, and it unsettled her.
Arjun nodded, a strange satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
"Good." he muttered, almost to himself. Meera's brow furrowed at his response. There was something unnerving in the way he said it.
He leaned forward slightly, eyes still locked onto hers.
"Do you have admirers?" His voice was calm, but there was an undercurrent of something darker, something possessive.
Meera blinked, trying to keep her composure. "IâI donât know." she replied softly, her fingers fiddling nervously with the edge of the napkin in her lap.
Arjun didnât look convinced. "You must have someone. A woman like you doesnât go unnoticed." His words were almost a statement, as if he couldn't fathom the idea that she might not have admirers.
Meeraâs irritation began to surface.
"I donât keep track." she replied, her voice firmer now.
Why was he interrogating her about this?, and it made her increasingly uncomfortable.
"Do you like anyone?" Arjun pressed, his voice quiet but insistent.
The question hung between them, and Meeraâs irritation morphed into something closer to anger.
What was his deal with all these questions?
"No." she snapped, her patience wearing thin. "I donât like anyone."
"Why?" Arjunâs tone was more intense now, and his gaze bore into her, as if her answer truly mattered to him.
Meera let out a frustrated sigh.
"I just havenât met the right person yet." she said, hoping that would be the end of it, but it wasnât. Arjun leaned in further, his interest clearly piqued.
"What kind of man are you looking for?" he asked, his voice low, dangerous even.
The question caught her off guard again, and she blinked in confusion, completely baffled by his persistence.
"Why?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
Why did he care? What was he trying to find out?
"Because I want to know." Arjun replied, his voice growing more menacing.
There was an edge to it now, a simmering anger beneath the surface that made Meera's pulse quicken in fear.
Sensing the shift in his mood, Meera swallowed nervously.
"A man who is kind..." she started, her voice hesitant, "loving, loyal, and intentional." She chose her words carefully, hoping to defuse the situation. But as she spoke, Arjunâs eyes grew darker, his expression unreadable.
"You think men like that exist?" Arjun asked, his voice laced with bitterness, a sneer curling on his lips.
"I do." Meera said firmly, though her heart pounded in her chest. "Iâm sure Iâll meet someone like that one day."
Arjunâs face hardened, and something cold and dangerous flickered in his eyes. He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. Meera watched in alarm as his jaw tightened, his expression darkening further.
"Men these days need to be powerful to take care of their families." he growled, his voice a low rumble that sent a chill down Meeraâs spine.
Meera shook her head defiantly.
"I donât need a man like that.." she said, her voice shaking but resolute. "I want someone simple. Loving, loyal, and kind. A man who will make me feel safe and who can be a good father to our children."
Her words seemed to have the opposite effect on Arjun. Instead of calming him, they only seemed to fuel the fire in his eyes.
He stared at her with a look that made her blood run cold. His expression was one of jealousyâraw and uncontained.
"And what if I told you that kind of man doesnât exist?" Arjunâs voice was dark, almost mocking now, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he leaned closer, invading her personal space.
Meera instinctively leaned back, trying to create distance, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the edge of the table.
"I donât believe that." Meera said, her voice wavering but still holding its ground. "I know that kind of man is out there."
Arjunâs eyes flashed with something primal, something possessive.
"Am I not your type, Meera?" he growled, his voice low and menacing. His words hung in the air like a threat, and Meeraâs eyes widened in shock.
"W-what?" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper. Her heart was hammering in her chest, and she could feel the walls closing in around her.
"Am I not the man you want?" Arjun's voice was sharp now, his anger barely contained. His fist clenched on the table, and the room seemed to grow darker around them.
The intensity of his jealousy was suffocating, and Meera felt trapped, unable to breathe under the weight of his gaze.
Meeraâs voice trembled as she tried to find the words.
"Arjun, IâI... Wha-what are you talking about?" she stammered, her mind racing. But her words only seemed to aggravate him further.
"You want some other man to make you feel safe? To be a good father to your children?" His words dripped with venom, and the possessiveness in his tone made Meera's stomach churn.
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. The room felt too small, too oppressive.
The man sitting across from her wasnât just Arjun anymoreâhe was something darker, something she couldnât understand. And for the first time, she realized she might be in real danger.
âArjun, please⦠youâre scaring me.â Meeraâs voice trembled, barely above a whisper as she felt the weight of his presence.
The intensity in his eyes was something she hadnât seen before, something that made her stomach twist in knots.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, and her fingers gripped the edge of her seat as if holding on to it would keep her grounded.
Arjun stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor with a harsh sound that echoed in the dimly lit room.
His tall frame loomed over her, casting a shadow that seemed to darken the entire space. His chest heaved, and though his face was calm, his body betrayed himâhe was visibly trembling, his hands clenched into fists by his sides as if trying to hold back a tidal wave of emotions.
Meera instinctively recoiled, her body shrinking into the chair.
Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the overwhelming fear rise within her.
The room seemed to close in on her, and the space between them felt dangerously small.
Arjun stepped forward, his towering figure closing the distance, and Meera felt herself shaking.
His shadow engulfed her, and when he finally stopped in front of her, his 6ft1inch frame seemed almost too large, too powerful.
His dark eyes locked onto hers, and she could see the storm brewing behind themârage, desire, frustration.
"What if I killed every man.." he began, his voice low and menacing, "..until you were left with only the ones you despise? The bad ones. The ones you wouldnât dare want."
Meeraâs heart dropped. His words sliced through her like a blade, chilling her to the bone.
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she could feel her throat tighten, the panic rising within her.
Arjunâs gaze followed the tear, his eyes darkening as it rolled down her face, past her chin, and landed just near the edge of her collarbone. His eyes drifted lower, following the soft rise and fall of her chest as she struggled to keep her breathing steady.
His focus shifted, lingering just above her neckline, where the fabric of her dress revealed only the faintest hint of skin.
There was nothing immodest about her appearance, yet the sightâjust the soft curve above her chestâseemed to draw him in like a predator to its prey.
His gaze grew darker, hungrier. She could see it in the way his eyes gleamed, in the way his jaw clenched as if he was fighting an internal battle.
âAr-Arjunâ¦â she stammered, her voice quivering with fear, âplease⦠I-I donâtââ
His eyes snapped back to her face, but not before they lingered for a moment too long on her lips.
Her soft, pink lips trembled as she tried to speak, and the sight made something primal stir within him.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his gaze lingering on her mouth as if drawn by some invisible force. His fists unclenched slowly as he took a deep breath, his focus zeroed in on the idea of what it would be like to taste her.
Meera could see the shift in him, the way his gaze softened ever so slightly but only in a way that made her more nervous. It wasnât the gentleness she was hoping for.
It was a different kind of softnessâone driven by a darker need, a desire that sent a shiver down her spine.
She tried to move, to distance herself, but her body felt frozen in place. Her mind screamed for her to stand, to run, but her limbs refused to cooperate.
Arjun towering frame so near now that she could feel the heat radiating off his body. He was too close, far too close, and every fiber of her being was on high alert.
âMeeraâ¦â he whispered, his voice deep and husky, filled with something unspoken, something that terrified her.
His hand moved slowly, almost as if he was trying to restrain himself, but the air between them crackled with tension.
"I would do anything for you." he continued, his voice almost tender now, but there was still that edgeâdangerous, raw. "Anything. I would destroy anyone who tries to come between us. You must know that."
Meeraâs breath hitched in her throat. His words were not a declaration of loveâthey were a threat, thinly veiled beneath a layer of twisted affection.
Her body tensed as she watched his every movement, her pulse quickening as his gaze remained locked on her.
âI donât want that â she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She tried to keep her composure, tried to hold on to some semblance of control, but she knew deep down that Arjun was far beyond reason now. The line had already been crossed, and there was no going back.
"Why?" he growled, his voice laced with frustration.
"Please, Arjun, I don't want this." Meera pleaded, her voice trembling.
"Meera..." he began, his tone soft but dangerous, "I admire you so muchâit's become something beyond madness." His eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt fear tighten in her chest.
Arjunâs hand hovered near her face, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to touch her but was holding back. His eyes never left hers, and the room seemed to shrink around them, the dim lights casting long shadows that danced ominously on the walls.
"You donât have a choice." he murmured, his voice soft but final. His gaze lingered on her lips once more, and Meera felt her skin prickle with fear.
Before Meera could even register what to say, Arjun's lips were on hers, sudden and forceful.
To him, the moment felt surreal, like he was kissing the softest rose petal, sweet and delicate. He was instantly swept up in the sensation, the softness of her lips pulling him in deeper. It stirred something inside him, a hunger he hadnât known existed, and for a fleeting second, he wanted to stay in that moment forever, to savor the warmth and sweetness of her kiss.
But for Meera, the world around her shattered in an instant. The shock of his unexpected kiss hit her like a wave, freezing her in place. Her mind raced in disbelief, and the feeling of violation rippled through her. It was all happening too fast, too forcefully, and her body responded before her mind could catch up.
Panic surged through her, and with all the strength she could muster, she shoved him away, her heart pounding in her chest.
Arjun stumbled back, but before he could comprehend what was happening, Meeraâs hand flew up on its own, driven by raw emotion.
The sound of her palm striking his cheek echoed sharply through the room, cutting through the silence like a knife.
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